Louver blind



w. L. RY

LOUVER BLIND Dec. 15, 1942.

Filed Sept. 30, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Roy, y 6V MZQ W. L. ROY

LOUVER BLIND Filed Sept. 30, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 4 I Sb afa wieg-:Laobf @i W. L.. ROY

LOUVER BLIND Filed Sept. 50, 1942 Dec. 15, *1942.

3 Sheets-She-et 3 'Eig.8.

`when raised` from eollapse'd'conditlon. The sev- Patented Dec. 15, 1942UNITED STAT-Es PATENT OFFICE control Corporation, Boston,

-tion of Massachusetts Mass., a corpora- Application Sept'l'nbr 30,194,2, Serial N0. 460.190

14 Claims.

This invention relates to Venetian or louver blinds and Vmoreparticularly to an improved blind of this nature adapted to closea'windo'w opening or the like to reduce or shut off the passage of lightand sound therethrough, and at 5 the saine time permit ampleventilation. While the invention especially concerns blinds for blackoutpurposes it is not limited thereto since it is frequently desired todiminish light rays and sound waves rather than to eliminate thementirely.

I am aware that ithas been heretofore suggested. as in U. S. Patent2,059,134, to provide inverted -V-shaped Venetian blinds 1n nestedrelation to=trap light rays arid at the same time permit ventilation.The primary object of my invention is to produce a novel, relativelysimpler and inexpensive `blind which will perform the deslied'functi'onsin greater degree and efficiency.

Preferably my improved blind is constructed of paper or like fabricfolded to provide the desired .slats or louvers and so formed that theslots normally rest in flat collapsed relation at the bottom of thewindow and automatically as sume their nested V-shape relation when the2'. blind is raised. The slats are connected ldirectly to each other ina manner permitting freeopening and closing thereof, the open relationbeing effected by raisins,r the blind by means of a 4cord or the likeattached to the upper slat.

In the `'preferred construction, each slat or louver embodies a strip ofsuitable material creased longitudinally to form an axis aboutv whichthe slat can pivot to inverted V-.shape eral slats can be independentstrips attached to' each other Vin the novel manner' hereinafterdescribed or all the slats can be formed from a single stripfolded toproducethe several slats integrally `connected to each other in a,relation '4l permitting full functioning of the blind. In either caseintermediate portions of the slats are perforated to permit ventilationwhile the Vslats' so overlap as to trap light raysand' deaden sound.waves It'will be apparent that paper an'dlike -4-f,

fabric absorbs sound `waves in large degree and the colory of the'-paper can be such as substa'n'- tialiy to cut oil any passage of lightor diffuse' the4 iig-ht in .the degrees desired. The productionof an`improved blind of. this nature com# prises' a further object oftheinvention;

These and. other featuresof the invention will be best understood andappreciated from the following description of preferred embodiments'thereofselectedfor purposes `of illus-tration and 55 (Cl. 1GO-34) shownin the accompanyingdrawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a front-elevationof a 'window employing my improved blind,

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is similar to Fig. 2, but showing the blind in collapsedposition,

Fig. 5 is a. similar vform of the invention.-

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a stripof material from Vwhich the blind isformed,

Fig. 'l is a view similar to FigpZ, but showing a modified construction,i Fig. 8- is a *view 'likellig r'7, but s'ho`wing the blind in collapsedposition,

Fig. 9 is a` fragmentary View showingthe constructionV of the blind`illustrated in Fig. 7,

Fig. 10 illustrates a modified construction, and l' Fig. 11 is anendview showing the construction illustrated in Fig. 10.

While in the drawings I have illustrated my novel blind in associationwith a window 'it will be understood that rits use is not to beconstrued as thus limited. The' window frame illustrated comprises theusual sill ID, frame uprights I2 and top piece lll, and the blindisillustrated as' mounted therein.

' I shall rst refer to Figs. 1-4 and 6 ofl the' drawings wherein the'plin'd is illustrated as"V formed` from a single strip of 'material I5.This' strip' I 6 can be of any suitable fabric, either paper' or treatedcloth. I preferably employ paper oji The panels 22 are also perforatedat 24 adjacent to the crease lin'es I9.

thecrea'se liliesv I8 and I9 in the' directionsjindi. cated at -thebottom" of Fig.' 6. The-nrs't two" panels 2li and 22 attire left and .atopposite sides of the perforations 24' are folded on the' line I9 to 'mebund is formed-by folding the 4strip" It on" the invertedV'shape-indi'cate`d. The adjacent' panels 2'2 and 20 'are' folded intoface' to'face coritact in the same direction on' the line I8. The nextadjacent panels Zlland 22 i3.re. .fo'ld'e dV-V shaped on' theline' I9.The next adjacent p'anels 22 and 20 are' foldedint'o indicated. Thissequence of folding is followed' throughout;v th'e length of the' strip'and the' folds' about the lines IB are broughtto and adhesivly" viewshowing a modified face to' fa'ce' Contact as secured in face to facecontact. The resulting product when thus folded is illustrated in Fig.2.

The blind as thus constructed comprises a plurality of louvers or slatsintegrally connected together. Each slat comprises two side wallportions 25 hinged together along the crease line I9, one portion beingdouble walled throughout from the axis I9 outwardly and narrower thanthe other portion which includes the panel portion perforated at 24 andconnecting the two adjacent slats` When the blind is mounted in verticalposition as illustrated in Figs. 1-4 the slats are adapted to collapseinto substantially flat superposed relation with the two walls of eachslat substantially in a common plane as in the position illustrated inFig. 4. The bottom panel of the blind is secured to the window sill I0as by nails 28, and the blind is adapted to be raised by a. cord 30attached to the top slat and extending over a sheave 32.

It will be noted (Fig. 2) that the blind comprises two groups of slatswith the slats of one group arranged alternately with respect to theslats of the other group, and with the slats of each group arranged invertical alignment and spaced laterally of the other group which is alsoin vertical alignment. The pivot axes I9 (apexes 40) of one group arealso in a vertical plane spaced laterally of a vertical plane containingthe axes I9 of the other group. The ends of the slats are recessed at 34between said planes and vertically extending elements 36, preferablymade of paper' and impervious to light and attached to the window frameat 38, extend into the recesses 34. These elements serve both to guidethe blind and close the ends against passage of light rays.

The slats stack automatically into iiat superposed relation when theblind is down and, when the blind is raised by the cord 3U to theposition of Fig. 2, the slats pivot about their axes I9 into inverted Vshape with the axis apex 4t. of each slat located within the re-entrantV recess of the slat thereabove. In such position the passage of lightrays is excluded.

By reference to Fig. 2 it will be noted that the outside panel 22 ofeach side wall extends upwardly beyond the apex 4I) thereofA and isconnected to the next adjacent wall thereabove, these connectingportions of the strip located between theapexes 40 being perforated at24. The perforations permit Vample ventilation through the blind withoutpermitting light rays to pass therethrough. It will be apparent thatsound waves are also trapped and substantially dea-dened by the blind. Ahousing 42 open at its bottom portionfor receiving the blind in theraised position of Fig. 2 is securedto the top end of the frame, thehousing serving to cut oli any light rays that might project over thetop of the blind.

In Fig. 5 I have illustrated use `of the blind in connection with anordinary Venetian blind 44.

A housing 4B is provided for receiving the Venetian blind in its raisedposition and an extension l thereof is provided at 48 for receiving thetop end Figs. 7 and 8. When it is desired to4 use the blackout blind, itis merely attached to the Venetian blind at 6U, whereupon raising of theVenetian i blind serves to raise. the blind 4S) toits functioningposition. l

; tinuing on and supporting the panel 55.

It is appreciated that my improved blind can be constructed in numerousways. For example, strips can be folded to form the double V slats 52,two of which are illustrated in Fig. 9. Each of these slats-` comprisesa double wall 53 together with two single side walls 54 and 55. Thedouble Wall comprises one panel in adhesive face to face contact with aportion of an adjacent and wider panel. The latter has a perforatedportion con- The panels 54 are wider than the panels 55 and are in faceto face adhesive contact therewith at 56 as illustrated in Fig. 9. Theslats 52 are assembled by stacking them flatly in superposed relation,the

. top faces oi. the panels 55 being adhesively coated whereby to connectthe slats together. The blind 5B, illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8, isconstructed in this manner.

I also preferably provide a container 6U supported on the window sillfor receiving and housing the blind in the collapsed positionillustrated in Fig. 8. The container is secured adhesively to the silland the bottom end of the blind is secured adhesively to the containerat 62. The top slat B4 is also provided with two side wings 5G fittingwithin the housing 68 when the blind is up (Fig. 7) and serving togetherwith the top slat as a tight cover for the container when the blind isdown (Fig. 8). The housing and other parts can be conveniently securedin place by adhesive tape (i5. This blind otherwise functions in thesame manner as the blind illustrated in Figs. 1-4.

`In Figs. l0 and ll I have illustratedv another method ofconstructing-the blind in the form of single V slats. Strips are foldedto provide two panels 10 and 'I2 joined along a creased apex axis 14,the panel 1U being wider and including a portion perforated-at 18. lThestrips are assembled in flat relation as illustrated in Fig. 11. Thenarrower panels of the strips are coated adhesively at 'I5 and thepanels are then stacked into the alternately and reversely arrangedrelation illustrated in Fig. 11. The several slats are thereupon securedtogether' at their adhering faces and in a manner producing the blindvillustrated in Fig. 1U.

My improved blind is preferably made of paper or like soft andinexpensive material which can be conveniently produced in desirablecolor and texture and readily cut and folded to the blind forming shape.Such material furthermore has the quality of absorbing light rays andsound waves. While the blind is especially adapted to serve blackoutpurposes with great eiiicency 'its use is by no meanslimited .tomilitary periods but is likewise very adaptable to peace times. Forblackout purposes the 'blinds will ordinarily be black or of a darkcolor, whereas, for some peacetime uses its color will vary. Forexample, the

invention can be constructed to serve as a partition or screen, eitherdark or of a color hue, photographic dark room screens 4in `dark or redhue.- and in fact in any location where a screen or comprising two sidewalls hinged together onan axis extending longitudinally of the slatsand the slats being adapted to collapse into substantiallynat superposedrelation with the two Walls of'v each slat substantially in a commonplane. and' means-connecting each slat adjacent to and along its saidaxis to one wall of a slat thereabove along a line parallel with andspaced from its said axis, the slats being adapted each to assume aninverted V-shape with the hinge axis apex of each slat located withinthe re-entrant V recess of the slat thereabove when the blind is liftedby the top slat.

2. The blind dened in claim l in which the apex of each slat isconnected to one wall of the slat thereabove along a line parallel withand spaced from the apex of the latter.

3. The blind defined in claim 1 in which the slats comprise ,two groupswith the slats of one group arranged alternately with respect to theslats in the other group and with the hinge axes of the two groupsrespectively located in two relatively spaced vertical planes.

4. The blind defined in claim 1 in which the slats have verticallyaligned slots extending thereinto at their ends, and fixed verticallyextending element impervious to light extending into the vslots at thetwo ends of the blind.

5. The blind defined in claim 1 in which the slats comprise two groupswith the slats of one group arranged alternately with respect to theslats in the other group and with the hinge axes of the two groupsrespectively located in two relatively spaced vertical planes, and iixedvertically extending elements impervious to light extending into theslatsbetween said two planes at the two ends of the blind.

6. The blind defined in claim 1 in which the two walls of each slat areintegrally connected along a scored line at said axis.

7. A blind, comprising a pluralityof slats of paper or the like insuperposed relation vertically, each slat comprising a strip scoredlongitudinally and dividing the slat into two parts relatively movableabout the scored axis, the slats comprising two groups with the slats ofone group arranged'alternately with respect to the slats of the othergroup, means so connecting the slats that the scored axes of each groupremain in a vertical plane spaced from a vertical plane in which thescored `axes of the other group are 1ocated, and means attached to thetop slat for lifting the blind to anopen position in which the slatsassume an inverted V-shape and are relatively cupped in spacedrelationand for lowering the blind into a collapsed positionA in which the slatsrest on each other.

8. The blind defined in claim '7 in which a portion of one part of eachslat adjacent to its scoring connects thatslat with the s la-ttherebeneath.

9. The blind dened in claim 7 in which the slats area continuous stripof paper or the like folded toproduce the slats in integrally connectedrelation.

10. A blind, comprising a plurality of slats of paper or the like insuperposedrelation vertically, each Slat comprising a strip scoredlongitudinally and dividing the slat into two parts relatively movableabout the scored axis, the slats comprising two groups with the slats ofone group arranged alternately with respect to the slats of the othergroup, the `slats of-each group .beingin vertical alignment and spacedlaterally of the other group, and' one part of'each slat from its saidaxis outwardly being wider than the other part and supporting the nextadjacent slat therebeneath in face to face contact therewith.

11. Thev blind deiined in claim 10 in which said next adjacent slat isin face to face contact with` the slat therea'bove to a position shortof the said axis thereof and in which the portion of said slatthereabove between its said axis and the contacted portion is perforatedto permit ventilation.

12, A blind comprising a plurality of elongated slats in superposedrelation vertically, a container at the bottom of the blind forreceiving the slats in collapsed position thereinto, means for raisingthe blind to open position from the container, the top' slat beingadapted to rest on and cover the container when the blind is collapsedthereinto, and side wings carried by the top slat and adapted to nt overand extend downwardly `along the. side walls of the container.

portion, the first remaining end portions beyond Yits crease line beingwider than the second remaining end portion beyond its4 crease line, andthe said remaining end portions of each strip lbeing adhesively attachedin face to face contact with like portions of adjacent strips wherebyproviding a. blind comprising a plurality of said folded and creasedstrips.

14. A b1ind.c omprising a plurality of strips of Vpaper or the like eachcreased thereacross on a straight line providing two panels atoppositesides of the line, one panel being Wider than the other panel, saidstrips being stacked' in superposed relation with;the narrower panelslocated alternately at opposite sides of the stack, and means securingthe narrower panels in face to face contact with the free outer portionsof th wider panels.

